The U.S. Forest Service is the greatest road builder in the world. Oft times, those forest service roads come in handy for hikers to get from one ridge to another, from one creek drainage to another, or simply from one trail to another. That’s the case with Forest Road 225 in Pisgah National Forest. FR225 tips the Caney Bottom and Cove Creek Trails on its eastern end, and the Daniel Ridge Loop on the western end. Combining the two by joining them via FR225 offers the ability to enjoy a longer loop hike. We tackled this adventure on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 beginning at 10:50AM and ending about 3:55PM. Our plan was to take the Caney Bottom Trail to the Cove Creek Trail, then join FR225 over to Lanning Ridge and its junction with the Daniel Ridge Trail.

We started this hike at the trailhead for the Daniel Ridge Loop and took the right fork past Daniel Ridge Falls. We continued to the Cove Creek connector trail and on to the Cove Creek Campground where we found a long-distance mountain biking challenge in progress, as well as a number of outdoor gear outfitters displaying their wares. There were dozens of tents on display, popping up like a spring garden. Hoping perhaps for a free sample handout, we were disappointed when no one even acknowledged our presence. We must have been ghost hikers. It’s like we didn’t even exist.

You have an option at this point. You can take either the Cove Creek Trail up the left side of the loop or the Caney Bottom Trail up the right. Both will get you to the same place, so choose your preference. I’ve previously written about the two, so perhaps that will help you decide. We chose the blue-blazed Caney Bottom side and dove into the forest. To avoid redundancy, I’ll pick this report up where the two trails meet at their northern junction.

At the junction, if you hang a left there is a rolling meadow a couple hundred yards away that is a nice spot for lunch or frolic. We took the right fork with yellow blaze however, as that’s the way to FR225. It isn’t far, perhaps another half mile. For the past week I’d been seeing lots of pictures posted on the Internet of those odd looking springy curly-cues known as fiddlehead ferns. Well, we found some on this trail. That’s the photo at the top of this post. Give it a click to see the full size image. They only last is this position for a few days. Once they unravel, they form the regular ferns that we’re all so familiar with in summer.

The next seven miles or so is all FR225. Some of it is grassy. Some of it has gravel, even a stretch that looks like new gravel was poured just this spring. Most of it is simply dirt — just like any ole forest service road that winds in and out of hollows, up and down ridges, and crosses a myriad of streams and branches.

We passed 4-5 different waterfalls, crossed at least a half dozen creeks, all the while bathed in glorious sunshine on a Carolina bluebird day. The dogwood was just starting to pop out, finally. After the long, cold winter many of the flowering trees and shrubs have been weeks late this year. You’re hiking in the 3000′ range here, so there are no evergreens, but the forest is bursting with the finest hardwood varieties. The maple and oak saplings had the brightest green new growth on them unlike their brethren standing high above that are still a fortnight away from opening their new leaves.

At one of the more scenic creek cascades we stopped for some lunch and to behold all the miniature wildflowers cast about. There were violets, both white and purple, chickweed and bitterweed, and of course more of the funny fiddleheads. We kept searching for the elusive and rare springtime delights, but everything just seems to be weeks behind the Tennessee side of the Smokies this year.

There are a couple of forest road junctions along the circuit. Just make sure to continue on the ungated pathway and you will remain on FR225. At one of the junctions while we were paused for pictures, we were rushed by a rather muscular black dog, followed by a retriever, and then a boxer — all of them off leash. It was a touch alarming, as we were also walking with Grace the Wonderdog, and we were concerned about these rogues attacking her. 100 feet down the road here came the owners struggling with two other dogs and hurrying to catch up.

Nothing happened this time, but it certainly could have. For those of you who like to walk your dogs in the national forest, please keep them on leash. You just never know what might happen. Yes, you are familiar with your dogs, and they are always friendly around you. You can’t imagine that they would ever attack another dog, or even a human. But… all it takes is once. With all these large dogs all charging at once, this could have been a very unfortunate scene.

The last of the junctions actually connects with a manway that climbs Lanning Ridge and pops out on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Graveyard Fields. Perhaps I’ll give that a go some time in winter, as a means of accessing the closed Parkway. When you reach this point, you are nearly to the end of FR225 and you need to start looking for the connector trail to Daniel Ridge. It drops off downhill to the left.

It is between a quarter and half mile down this connector to its meeting with the red-blazed Daniel Ridge Loop. From there it’s a repeat of what I wrote about before. You will come to the junction that goes to Farlow Gap, turn left and then follow Lanning Branch all the way back to the parking area.

We encountered more wildflowers, including some trillium just beginning to strut their stuff, and of course the beauty that is Lanning Branch. I believe it to be the most picturesque creek in all of the Pisgah Ranger District.

In summary, if you’re looking for a day hike that is longer than the Cove Creek/Caney Bottom Loop or the Daniel Ridge Loop, Forest Road 225 is a means of connecting the two to make a five hour combination. Sure, it’s mostly hiking on road, but there are still several miles of single track trail and the charm of Caney Creek and Lanning Branch. It isn’t especially difficult and is easily doable in all four seasons.

This post was created by Jeff Clark. Please feel free to use the sharing icons below, or add your thoughts to the comments. Pack it in, pack it out. Preserve the past. Respect other hikers. Let nature prevail. Leave no trace.

One of many trails found off Forest Road 475 in the Pisgah Ranger District near the State Fish Hatchery, Daniel Ridge Loop is a beautiful 5-miler that takes you near the headwaters of Davidson River. As you climb the ridge you’ll have views of the Looking Glass and Cedar Rock plutons on the south side, and drainage off four ridges into Davidson River on the north side. Long-distance viewing is best in winter, but the forest comes alive with dogwood, silverbell, blueberry and rhododendron in the green months. An occasional spruce joins a mostly hardwood forest that even includes some tall, old tulip trees left by loggers a century before. This hike occurred on Thursday, February 28, 2013 from 10:30am to 1:10pm. Our plan was to hike the Daniel Ridge Loop counterclockwise with a visit to Daniel Ridge Falls as well.

Watch for Cove Creek Campground on Fish Hatchery Road. The trailhead for Daniel Ridge Loop is roughly 0.7 mile past. The trailhead is actually Forest Road 137, but it is also signed as Daniel Ridge Loop. Just a hundred yards up the forest road you will cross a rather remarkable steel bridge over Davidson River. Remarkable? Yes, because such an extensive bridge was built this far back in the boonies.

Remember the size of Davidson River here, because in a couple hours when you reach the headwaters area, it will be not much more than a mountain stream. Just past the bridge and a few campsites is a decision point. You may take the Daniel Ridge Loop in either direction. Clockwise follows the river first, then climbs the north side of the ridge. Counterclockwise begins climbing the south side of the ridge almost immediately, then ends along the river.

The trail map says the blaze markings on Daniel Ridge Loop are red. I have been known to have some color-blindness, but I have to tell you the blaze looks bright orange to me. You can decide for yourself. Either way, the markings are frequent and easily identifiable.

My companion and I usually like to get the climbing out of the way at the beginning while we are still fresh, so we chose the right fork, FR 5046. With that decision came a nice surprise. A couple hundred yards up 5046 the Daniel Ridge Loop takes off up the hill. However, if you go past another 80 yards on the forest road, you will hear and find Daniel Ridge Falls, a 100 foot multi-tiered cascade that isn’t even on the trail maps.

Daniel Ridge Falls, apparently also known as Toms Spring Falls, is Lanning Branch dropping across multiple levels of black granite as it rushes to eventually meet Davidson River. You can get right close to the falls about mid-tier. Getting to the top, or the bottom, would require some bushwhacking.

After snapping a few photos, we backtracked to the Daniel Ridge Loop cutoff and commenced our climb up the ridge. The steepness never gets more than moderate, but it is uphill for the better part of a mile and a half. A few switchbacks will take you to Lanning Branch above the waterfall. You’ll follow the stream for awhile, even cross it once, then take a turn in a westerly direction. You will encounter a meadow on the right with one of the tallest holly trees I’ve ever seen.

Not far past this meadow, a spur trail will come down from the north. We did not take this trail, but I’m told you can find another waterfall by going 0.1 mile to a junction with FR 5046, then taking a right turn for 0.2 mile. There will be a nice view of Pilot Mountain to the southwest, and a 50-foot small-volume waterfall cascading off a large escarpment that is surrounded by wildflowers.

The forest is mostly hardwood — tulip trees, oak, beech and birch — with an occasional spruce thrown in. Everywhere there is water you’ll find the ubiquitous rhododendron, though I don’t recall seeing much mountain laurel along the Daniel Ridge Trail.

About mid-climb the turf changes from typical Carolina dirt to red clay. When you reach this slippery-when-wet clay you’re almost to the next crossing of grassy FR 5046. The trail continues on the other side of the road, then shortly takes a northwesterly turn. Keep your eyes peeled to your right and behind you as you approach the top of the ridge. You will see the large granite faces of Looking Glass Rock and Cedar Rock through the trees (well, maybe not in summer). For us, Cedar Rock was glistening in the sun with its ice covering.

As you top Daniel Ridge and begin heading down the north side, the vista completely changes. Off to the west (your left) and north (straight ahead) is an area I would call Four Ridges. It is made up of Shuck Ridge, Daniel Ridge, Fork River Ridge, and Lanning Ridge. Each have their own drainage channel that eventually meets Davidson River. It’s really a remarkable view and awesome in its intimidation. If you were trying to proceed in that direction, you are essentially hemmed in. Far on the back side of the ridges is the Blue Ridge Parkway.

About half way down the north side of Daniel Ridge there is another spur trail off to the right. This one connects with FR 225 and would take you to Lanning Ridge. Should you so desire, you could eventually end up on Bennett Knob overlooking Looking Glass Rock. But that is several miles away.

Continuing down Daniel Ridge Loop Trail another 3/8 mile you will come to a junction with the Farlow Gap Trail. You’ll begin to hear the sound of rushing water from the Davidson below, and catch the occasional glimpse of whitewater through the trees. Farlow Gap is a trail for another day, but that is a way around Four Ridges. It eventually connects with the Art Loeb Trail to Pilot Mountain and the Blue Ridge Parkway, then beyond into Shining Rock Wilderness. This is the most northerly point on the Daniel Ridge Loop Trail.

And a point it is, because the Daniel Ridge Trail almost reverses direction as it turns south and heads steeply down toward Davidson River. By this time we were thinking about lunch, so we looked for some nice boulders along the rushing stream and stopped to enjoy. The sights, sounds, and smells were marvelous as we re-nourished and surveyed this beautiful woodland scene. I plan on coming back in spring when the dogwood, trillium, and even columbine are in bloom.

The rest of Daniel Ridge Trail follows Daniel Ridge Creek into Davidson River as they plunge several hundred feet over the next two miles. At times, the trail will be right beside the water, at others it’s 30 feet above. Either way, the photo opportunities are numerous. For those who love backcountry camping, so are the primitive sites that are available along the river. You’ll also see evidence of logging from nearly a century ago, but the forest has returned magnificently.

The Forest Service has done a wonderful job with their management practices in this area as you can identify the multi-age levels of growth that will help to ensure a thriving woodland for the next century and beyond. One thing I did find somewhat odd though, was the tulip poplars that were shedding their bark. I noticed a few. Hopefully this isn’t the beginning of some kind of blight.

Watch for several small waterfalls along Davidson River as you continue the descent. The Daniel Ridge Trail merges with Forest Road 137 at an old stone logging bridge. The construction of the stone support walls on each side of the old bridge are quite impressive. There is a trail on the opposite side of this bridge, but it is no longer supported by the Forest Service. The rhododendron that lines the river gets thicker and thicker as you approach the end of the loop and your return to the start point.

In summary, I really loved the scenery on this trail. This is a moderately easy hike that is family friendly and appropriate during any season. The Forest Service records this loop as only four miles, but with the side trips to Daniel Ridge Falls and other photo spots, my GPS tracked it as nearly six. I already have this hike on my list for a return in the spring. I’m anxious to see what the trail, water and woods offer when it’s time to show off their blossoming finery.

Update 05/23/2013

As mentioned above, I planned on revisiting this trail in spring, and so I did on Saturday, May 18, 2013. The river and the forest were just as awesome as I suspected, so my high recommendation for the Daniel Ridge Loop Trail continues. Enjoy these additional photos from my most recent trip.

Update 10/29/2015

Adding one more season to the collection for this beautiful creek side hike. Most of the trees were a week or more past peak color, but as you will see from the gallery, there was still quite a bit remaining, particularly in the yellow spectrum. I purposely chose a cloudy day to eliminate harsh lighting for the photos. It couldn’t have been a more delightful day.

This post was created by Jeff Clark. Please feel free to use the sharing icons below, or add your thoughts to the comments. Pack it in, pack it out. Preserve the past. Respect other hikers. Let nature prevail. Leave no trace.